Beginning with the founding myths of Romulus and Remus and a succession of probably fictitious kings, Anthony Everitt charts the development of Rome from its origins as a small market town in the eighth century BC, through various forms of patrician government, up to Caesar's victory in the Civil War that defeated the Roman Republic and paved the way for Augustus to transform republican oligarchy into imperial autocracy.
Using recent archaeological evidence and historical facts, and a wealth of legend and anecdote, Everitt shows how Rome grew - both internally, via ever more ambitious construction projects, and externally, through successful military campaigns. In doing so, he highlights some fascinating parallels between ancient Roman society and the modern world.
As readable and accessible as it is authoritative and scholarly, THE RISE OF ROME is the perfect introduction to Roman history and civilization for the general reader.